LED circuit design/construction

[wjgollatz]

I am looking for a primer on LED circuit construction, that goes beyond just the basics. I want to create my own lights (flashlights in particular or special light boxes), much cheaper than I can buy them, and have some customization.

Online, I am reading what seems to be different terminology for the same concept. In particular, I want to operate LEDs that require a higher voltage than my input voltage (1.5 to 3 V). So I need some sort of IC, or some sort of pulse boosting whatever to ramp up the voltage in manner that still keeps the LED light emitting.

I am hoping to find a good resource on it. Many of the websites seem to be skimming the voltage ramping, seemingly because they are writing to people that already have an electronics background. I do have an engineering background (just not electrical engineering), I can learn the stuff, I just need a competent resource that covers all the basics, and perhaps some examples, that goes into the pulsing that is required for some led lights. Actually,m I think there are two ways, an IC circuit that pulses, and a non-IC that uses capacitors in parallel and then a stage where the voltage is boosted.

I don't expect to build a light on the first try, and I intend to breadboard any designs first.

 

[masteryoda34]

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Voltage_doubler

 

[disappoint]

What you're looking for to increase the voltage is a boost converter. Voltage doubler is a more generic term that includes AC. Searching for a boost converter will narrow your search down to DC to DC converters.

 

[denis280]

higher voltage than my input voltage (1.5 to 3 V)

Resistor is the word,as i mention in another post,EX.a 1K resistor will run a led from a 12 volt dc.

 

[sm625]

You are not going to buy a power LED, a DC-DC converter, and a circuit board for any cheaper than what you can buy in the form of a whole mass produced flashlight. Unless you need more than 100 such units, it would be cheaper to simply buy flashlights and take them apart to use their boards in your application. I have a couple really nice flashlights that costed me $5. What you can get for $5 has come a long way since the early days of LED flashlights that would crap out or become intermittent after a two camping trips.